Our God is an awesome God who keeps his covenantal relationship of love with us. However weak and sinful we are, God sees the good in us and forgives. Recently, I came across an inspiring story that is said to have been featured in a TV documentary about Apartheid several years ago.
If a member of the tribe acts irresponsibly or criminally, they are placed at the center of the village. Work stops, and every man, woman, and child in the town gathers around the accused in a large circle. Then, one at a time, everyone, including the children, call out all the good things the person in the center has done previously.
The ceremony doesn't stop until no one can think of another positive comment and not a word of the accused's antisocial deed has been mentioned. In the end, the tribal circle breaks up, a celebration begins, and the accused is welcomed back into the community.
This continuous repetition of overwhelming positive strengthens the self-esteem of the accused and causes that person to resolve to live up to the expectations of the tribe. Perhaps borrowing from this technique might be a good idea, at least in certain family situations in which a member has gone astray.
Today’s gospel invites us to be merciful, just as the Father is merciful. Stop judging and condemning. Forgive and give.
“For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Luke 6:38b
We are called to remember the covenantal relationship of love that God has made with us: the covenant which unites us to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. As we think of this sacrifice and God’s forgiveness of our sins, let us recognize the goodness in those around us, especially our family members. And let us share words of this goodness with each other at appropriate times and in appropriate places. With time, words of goodness will crowd out memories of transgressions.
During this season of Lent, let us make a special effort to speak of the goodness.
- Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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